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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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A "rare winter storm" taking aim at Texas and other Gulf Coast states will bring heavy snow and ice through midweek, prompting myriad warnings for people living in the area.
Why It Matters
Millions of people are facing frigid temperatures this week. Subzero wind chills hit the Northern U.S. over the weekend and have since spread further into the U.S.
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The warnings are hitting as far south as Texas' southern point, and abnormally cold, snowy weather is expected to bring major impacts to parts of the Lonestar State.
What to Know
In addition to the frigid temperatures, a winter storm will bring heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain to Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.
The storm will begin Monday evening in eastern Texas before spreading across the Gulf Coast and Southeast through Wednesday morning. The National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Prediction Center warned of heavy snow along and north of the Interstate 10 corridor, accompanied by swathes of sleet and freezing rain in south Texas, southeast Georgia and northern Florida.
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According to a map shared in the center's key messages about the storm, the worst impacts will hit parts of Louisiana and far east Texas. These areas are expecting "major impacts" from the storm, in which driving will be dangerous and the disruption is expected to be "considerable." A winter storm warning and extreme cold warning have already been issued for parts of Texas ahead of the storm.
The message warned of "major traffic and travel disruptions" becoming likely, as many of these areas "are not accustomed to impactful winter weather." Flight cancellations and delays also are expected.
Minor impacts from the storm will spread as far north as Norfolk, Virginia.
Power outages also are possible, as widespread subfreezing temperatures take hold of the region. Significant snow and ice amounts could contribute to power outage as well.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has issued a Weather Watch for January 20 to 23. As of Monday, grid conditions were expected to be normal.
What People Are Saying
NWS science and operations officer Rodney Chai, who works at the Brownsville, Texas, office, told Newsweek: "This is not out of the ordinary cold." Chai said frigid temperatures into the 20s hit the Brownsville area maybe once per winter.
NWS Weather Prediction Center in a post on X: "A rare winter storm set to produce heavy snow & disruptive ice accumulations will soon track from Texas on east across the Gulf Coast states this week."
ERCOT in a post on X: "ERCOT has issued a Weather Watch from January 20-23 due to forecast extreme cold weather across the ERCOT region, higher electrical demand, and the potential for lower reserves. Winter precipitation is also expected across parts of the state. Grid conditions are expected to be normal during a Weather Watch and can be monitored on http://ercot.com."
What Happens Next
The winter storm warning in southern Texas is expected to expire by Tuesday evening. The extreme cold warning will expire Tuesday morning.
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